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SPHansen

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Journal Entries posted by SPHansen

  1. SPHansen
    ... I think so too.
    It is time for the Kennedy to retire... however, what is the likelihood of that? On one hand, they only make the coin because they have to.. it's not used in commerce, so will they take the time, effort, expense, etc. to change it?
    On the other hand, the Mint is in a phase of pumping out coins to generate interest and boost sales, so it may come to pass. Maybe they will pull a '09 Lincoln', make an anniversary set, and change the design for 2015? Only time will tell, I suppose.
    While MLK is a worthy subject, I'd much rather see a return to Liberty coin designs... the recent SSB commemorative seems to be a great success for them, and perhaps they will take the hint.
  2. SPHansen

    Some Advice Please

    By SPHansen,

    To conserve or not?
    Check out this merc...
    http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=131303&lotNo=29045
    I'm looking to add to my 1942 mint set, but I'm not happy with the toning... to me it detracts from the coins appearance. Do you think it is worth getting, and having conserved and reholdered? Would conserving the coin run the risk of changing the grade?
    Appreciate any advice. Thanks
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  3. SPHansen

    Last Straw

    By SPHansen,

    !!!
    First I'd like to say gratz to those who got awards... But none of those sets which got 'Best Presented' was presented anywhere near the quality, or had the effort that I put into my Presidents set.
    It shows me that NGC doesn't really give a damn, nor makes decisions based on the parameters they set forth.
    Tell me this set is better than mine?
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/awards/WinningSetDetail.aspx?AwardSetID=29979
    Or that any of the awarded sets beats this one?
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=128310
    Sorry, but I'm not buying it...
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  4. SPHansen
    ... or The Bulgarian Registry Sets have arrived!
    1028/2012Yes, its been awhile since I posted a journal, but been very busy with two jobs and getting my currency collection underway. Have managed to pick up a few coins here and there, but nothing really major.I saw that things were picking up again with the registry sets being added, and I poked my head in and asked about the Bulgarian sets... and presto! NGC delivered. I was able to put the three graded coins I have into the sets, and eagerly await the grading of the 5 I put in at the ANA Show in Dallas last week. Should be knowing the results sometime next week, which I'll share. Also looking forward to the upcoming Registry Awards... I've worked very hard on my Prez Proof set, and hope it will be a contender this year!Posting a pic of one of my Bulgarian Treasures :)Ciao 4 NowTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  5. SPHansen

    Money Mecca

    By SPHansen,

    ... or I go to da place where dey Mecca da Money!
    Currency Journal for July 25, 2012I posted this on the PMG registry today, but wanted to share with my coin collecting friends as well :)Being an avid coin collector, I have always wanted to tour one of the US Mint facilities. Not being close to any of them has made this a dream yet to be fulfilled. Having recently become a collector of US currency, it dawned on me that I live very close to one of the two BEP printing facilities, the BEP's Western Currency Facility in Fort Worth, Texas. A quick search on the internet told me that tours are conducted pretty much every day, and walk-ups are welcomed. I have free time this week, so I elected to be spontaneous and take the free tour.I set out early this morning, and after an hour-long drive arrived at the BEP Facility. You pull up to a small parking lot reserved for visitors. A recorded voice welcomes you, and reminds you that you cannot bring cameras, phones, backpacks, etc. and to leave them in your car. I did just that and entered the small security building just outside the gates. You go through a scanner, just like at the airport, and then wait for the next shuttle bus to arrive to take inside. The bus arrived less than a minute, and the ten others there and I boarded and we were on our way. It is just a short ride, and I was impressed at how much security there was there. Double fences, cameras and barbed wire surround the entire complex. You are dropped of in front of the Visitor's Center (the pyramid topped building in the photo) and greeted warmly. A receptionist welcomes you and tells you all the different places to go and see. There are two floors, and lots to keep you oohing and aahing. THe first thing that drew my attention was a display with plates that you could touch. It is amazing how tiny the details are, almost imperceptible to the touch. From there I watched a demonstration on how note were printed in the 1800's. An original spider press was there, over 125 years old, and still in working order. Tom (the demonstrator) showed how the plates were inked, cleaned and then set into the press. Placing a sheet of paper on the plate, he spun the wheel and presto, a printed image was made. The image was of an old $10,000 note. The other plates he had there were of the $1000 Watermelon reverse, and the faces of the Educational notes. These were breaktaking, and the sample images were something you wished you could take with you! From there, I toured the galleries, seeing things like the different counterfeit notes made by specific notorious counterfeiters over the past century. They had a special exhibit on the $100 note, with examples of every type ever made in the US. More exhibits included sections on each part of the process used to create our notes today. Some are interactive, and one I enjoyed was trying to spot the errors on a batch of $20 notes. I was able to find three of the four errors rather quickly, but that fourth one eluded me for awhile. Fortune was smiling on me today, as they had a special event there. Only three times a year, they have a day where the actual engravers, printers and other craftsmen there are on the floor to take questions and show you what they do with actual materials. I spent lots of time there having a great conversations with these guys. They are so knowledgeable, and enjoyed talking about their work. I also learned that a new $2 has been printed, and is in the vaults waiting to be released this fall... I'll be watching for this new series eagerly! The deuce is my favorite note, and was the first note ever given to me as a collectible (1976 series). The tour is all automated now, and you take it at your own pace. They give you a map, and a wand that looks like a remote control for your tv. The tour takes place in an enclosed walkway above the floor of the facility. You actually watch the money being printed, checked, cut and bricked. THe first thing that hits you is the staggering amount of cash sitting just below your feet. Billions of dollars are there, and that is just what you can see. More is stored in the vaults, ready for when orders are placed. When you arrive at one of nine stations, you press the number into your wand, and then hold it to your ear like a phone. You are told about what is happening below you at that point. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and I was surprised at how many people were there; I'd estimate 100+. Despite that, it wasn't crowded or uncomfortable at all. There was plenty of room up there, and comfortably air conditioned.After that, I moved on to the theater, where they has a short 15 minute film about how notes are made. It punctuates the experience nicely.Finally, I made my way to the Gift Shop. Of course, everything you can find on the BEP online store is there, but to my surprise, it is much cheaper! You don't have to pay shipping, etc. I picked up a 2012 $2 Single note for $4.99, and a cool BEP t-shirt with the image of Washington's image from the $1 note. A short shuttle ride back to the car, and I was on my way home. I spent just over 2 hours inside the facility, but it seemed like 2 minutes. I was so engaged, and there was so much to see. A wonderful adventure, especially for a fledgling collector!The image below is of the facility as seen from the parking lot, with an inset of the sign at the entrance. I wish I could have shown you the sites, but as I said before.. no cameras allowed. I hope that everyone of my fellow collectors can experience a tour of the BEP... it is well worth it!Ciao for now!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  6. SPHansen
    ... because I am stumped!
    Many years ago, I received some coins from my mother-in-law. I was very busy at the time, and put them away for safe keeping. Today, I dragged them out to bring the ancients to a coin show for see if they were actually real Roman coins. They are genuine, but that is not what I'm speaking of today.
    In that batch were several old coins, most of which are silver from the late 1800s to early 1900s. The only coin I cannot identify is this one. Seems to be in Arabic -script, and is about the size of a Morgan dollar. Is there anyone who can point me in the right direction... a clue to its nationality, etc.? Any help would be appreciated!

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  7. SPHansen

    Bump!

    By SPHansen,

    ... or new additions to a project set!
    Coin Journal for the week of 07/08/2012 through 07/15/2012This has been an interesting week for me. It saw the beginning of a new collecting interest, the completion of a set and the resumption of work on another. The completion of my 2012 Proof Set was accomplished early this year. I had several of the required coins already sent in and certified from the Birth Year set earlier this year. I was very disappointed that NGC has not acknowledged the birth year set, either in the regular proof set or in a set of its own. It was a first year of issue, had a pedigree on the label and even had a mint error in the packaging. I hope they will reconsider. Be that as it may, I have another 100% perfect PF70UC set under my belt. Its completion allowed me to turn my attentions to another set I have been wanting to work on. The 1942 Mint Set, created and named in memory of my late mother, has gotten a little love this week. My goal is to make it a top-ranked set, which will be no small feat, as there are some really great sets. Checking out the competion, I decided to give mine a bit of a bump by acquiring the three cents required in the best grades possible. A quick check the Coin Explorer (what a wonderful tool!), shows me that the 42 Philly has a top grade of MS67RD, the 42 Denver has a top grade of MS67RD, and the 42 San Francisco also has a top grade of MS67RD. I dug around, and found very few opportunities to acquire any of these at a price I considered reasonable. I was able, however, to acquire the 42P from Great Collections, and the remaining two from David Lawrence. I had done the research, and all were within the price range I deemed proper. I was glad that each coin was rich in color, with great eye appeal and well-kept slabs. Each is a fine addition to my set. These three coins bumped the set up 4 places to 14th in the ranking. I am now scouting for additions and upgrades for the 4 nickels required. Each will be what I half-jokingly call 'Lehigh Standard' in grade and appearance (budget willing, of course.) For those interested, the set can be seen here... http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=137041 If you follow the Friday Trivia Challenge, you'll notice that I was runner-up two weeks ago (Received my storage box, which now houses the aforementioned 1942 Mint Set!), and was the winner last week. The prize was a certificate to have a note graded. Up to this point, my interest in currency was confined to collecting a few interesting notes here and there. They always have been raw, and stored in a currency album kept beside my coins. This prize peeked my interest in notes, and I decided to expand my horizons. I've added a couple of PMG graded notes, my first ones ever! I'm excited to learn more.I'll leave you with the obverse of the 42 Philly Cent.See you in the trenches!
  8. SPHansen
    ... if I only had a time machine!
    I picked up an old numismatic catalog at auction, and it arrived today... wow, what fun to look through it!
    Listen to some of these prices:
    Gold Dollars D mint (Dahlonega!)
    1849 $2.00
    1850 $2.00
    1851 $3.00
    Trade Dollars
    1873 Proof 50c to 75c
    1874 Proof 50c to 75c
    1875 Proof 50c to 75c
    Morgans
    1896 through 1904 Proofs $1.10
    Half Dollars
    1794 Flowing Hair Dollar $25 to $100
    1795 Flowing Hair Dollar $1.50 to $3.50
    Half Dollars
    1794 $2.50 to $6.00
    Dimes
    1796 $1.00 to $5.00
    and on and on... Whew!
    I think I remember someone saying they are a collector of these old books... if you want to trade for this one, please contact me !

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  9. SPHansen
    ... Just curious!
    I've been picking up some examples of the coins and tokens minted at the Moonlight Mint over the past year... I really like the look of the fantasy coins and tokens... and I think they add some whimsy to my collection. I just received my 2012 Liberty Head / Eagle silver tokens, and they look so sweet. I wouldn't mind if our current coinage looked like these... anyone else a fan of DC?

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  10. SPHansen

    A Grading Question

    By SPHansen,

    ... cuz I is a noob
    It has been awhile since I last posted, but I've been quietly busy in the background. I have collected 1970 Mint Sets, specifically to get the 70D Kennedys. Now that I have them, I have a question about assessing them before sending them info grading. I'm not sure if I should remove them from the plastic and then assess them, or leave them in and keep the integrity of the sets. What should I do? And if left in the OGP, how does one look past the packaging to figure out what the grade is? Would love some guidance... thanks!
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  11. SPHansen
    Not happy!
    So, namvette68 has petitioned NGC and they changed the listings... and wants to go back to his corner. Sorry, but the fight is not over, but just beginning. You are happy, dude, but all you have done is open upa can of worms. Did you think that others were not as passionate about their sets? I will now begin the petition to change it again. I was upset about CHRISTOS, but this is more than I can stand. I was first... then bumped to second, and now 4th slot... no way I will let this outrage stand. Monday morning finds me on the phone to NGC...
  12. SPHansen

    My Presidents Set

    By SPHansen,

    The frame work is complete....
    Since the registry awards in January, I have been working very hard to create a set that would be a contender for Best Presented. I played around with several styles of image display, and thought about which set to give my attention. I finally decided that it would be my Presidential Dollar set, a number one ranked set in its category. I love history, and decided that I could inject that passion into its presentation.
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetGallery.aspx?PeopleSetID=128310
    Each coin has been photographed and placed onto a backdrop of the American Flag. Under each coin there is also a brief summary of that President's term in office, as well as some of the numismatic highlights that occurred during that term. Each summary is completely original, written by me and not copied from another source. I am very proud of the set, and would love everyone to check it out and give me some feedback if you feel so inclined. I really feel I have a shot at the award, and will be making tweeks here and there to make it the best I can.
    Thanks for reading, and look forward to any responses!

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  13. SPHansen
    ... I think so too.
    It is time for the Kennedy to retire... however, what is the likelihood of that? On one hand, they only make the coin because they have to.. it's not used in commerce, so will they take the time, effort, expense, etc. to change it?
    On the other hand, the Mint is in a phase of pumping out coins to generate interest and boost sales, so it may come to pass. Maybe they will pull a '09 Lincoln', make an anniversary set, and change the design for 2015? Only time will tell, I suppose.
    While MLK is a worthy subject, I'd much rather see a return to Liberty coin designs... the recent SSB commemorative seems to be a great success for them, and perhaps they will take the hint.
  14. SPHansen
    ... or Finding some bargains on Heritage, Great Collections and Teletrade sites!
    Coin Journal for the week of 02/27/2012 through 03/04/2012This week saw several top pop additions to my Roosie proof set, and a few for my SBA set. I am still waiting for my 1881 Morgan!!! Listen to this little adventure... the coin left Oregon, sent promptly by the buyer. It spent a couple of days in transit before hitting San Antonio, and another day to get to the main Dallas sort center. The next day it was at the Coppell sort center, and usually that means it will make to me the next day. This time, however, it was back at the main Dallas center the next day, and then back in San Antonio the following day. This began a ping pong situation where it is now back in Dallas, but traveling between Coppell and Dallas each day. This has been going on for about a week now, and I have no idea what is up. I wrote the USPS but am still waiting for a reply. Good thing its not a organ for a transplant or something!Here are the treasures I added to my collection this week: 2002 Bulgarian 5 Stotinki in PF67 1943 D Merc Dime in MS65 FB 1835 Capped Bust Dime in NGC Good Details 1979 S SBA Dollar in MS66 1980 S SBA Dollar in PF69UC 2006 D SMS Jefferson Nickel in MS66 6FS 2004 Michigan Quarter in PF69UC 1981 S Quarter Type 2 in PF68UC 1974 Roosevelt Dime in PR69DCAM PCGS 1942 D Mercury Dime in MS64 1962 Jefferson Nickel in PF64 1995 Clad Roosevelt Dime in PF70UC 2000 Clad Roosevelt Dime in PF70UC 2008 D JQ Adams Dollar in MS66 FDI Started the week off getting an NGC graded proof coin for my Bulgarian set... it would be nice if NGC would honor my request to add these to the competitive set list... I also picked up a complete BU raw set of 1992 Bulgarian circulation issues. These would be the first coins of the new era, free from the grip of the USSR and the Communist regime. These will be going to NGC for grading, along with some silver and gold commems I got on my last trip to Sofia. I've railed against some of the non-eBay sites, citing their high Buyers Premiums as a reason to avoid these sites. Recently, however, I have been comparing the going prices on these sites as compared to eBay, and I have to say that my first impressions were both right and wrong. First, I find that my original sentiment holds firm, that the BPs are keeping people from bidding on the low cost coins that will go cheaper on eBay. I am also finding that the premiums are also keeping the prices for some of the slightly more expensive coins lower than eBay. I picked up this 1835 Capped Bust dime for my dime type set for $22, with a BP of $5 (total $27). The cheapest on eBay for a comparable coin is twice that! This coin has a Details designation for some scratches on the reverse, but the coin itself looks really nice. Its one of those that speaks to me, and it will now have a home in my collection. So I have now purchased coins from both Heritage and Great Collections, and I'm very happy with both experiences. Also grabbed a couple of SBA dollars on the cheap... One for $5 and the other for $1! Since the only one I have in the registry is a PCGS graded coin, I wanted to make sure I have at least one NGC example in each of the MS and PF registry sets. I remember when these came out, and several times I got them in change instead of a quarter. Its funny how the US public shuns the dollar coins... from what I understand, they are again introuducing legislation to get rid of the dollar bill. Canada did this and they have only $1 and $2 dollars in coin form. Seeing how much money it saves, it might just pass... The SMS Jefferson just popped into view, I needed it, it was 6FS and it was cheap.. trifecta! I am, by the way, glad they stopped the SMS coins.. it sucked having to get not only proof and circ sets, but now a third? ! Right after that I snagged a Michagan Quarter at a bargain price as well... slowly but surely I will get the entire set in graded form. The same for the 81 Quarter... its not the highest grade, but I am choosing my battles when it comes to top pop. Dimes are first, then proof sets as I pick a date and work to get the best coins for that year. ... after all the talking about NGC vs PCGS, I picked up the 74 Dime in a PCGS holder. I decided to do this because the PF69UC dime in NGC is going for stupid money... economics prevailed here. The 42D Merc is for my short set and the Memorial Mint Set for my Mom. I grabbed this one because it went super cheap... the 62 Nickel is a lower proof grade than I have, but for 3 bucks, you can't go wrong. I am thinking that later on, these lower grade coins can be used to give to the grandkids if I can get them hooked on the hobby... go ahead kid, the first one is free Picked a few more coins from Heritage this evening... both dimes in PF70UC. Also, I participated in my first Teletrade auction today... that was an interesting experience. I like the fact that they have *fee-free* nights, which I imagine helps get more bids. I grabbed a 2009 P Polk Presidential Dollar in MS66 FDI for $7... about the same as eBay would cost me. Some of the Morgans went for less than average eBay prices, but most about the same as well. The selection of coins is not as diverse as a regular auction, but it was okay. Only thing is your almost have to baby sit your selections the entire time, or wait til the last 30 minutes and see what you want to bid on. I will watch this site, especially on Tuesdays. No change on the NCS status... still waiting for evaluation. I was reading some FAQ questions on the NCS site, and saw that if I requested a concervation and grading, but the coin is not deemed suitable for conservation they will just send it back to me without grading? I wish they'd have some sort of choice box for that... I wouldd rather have the coins graded than just returned to me, so that I have to send them back them again. They also said it could take 4-6 weeks? Damn, they know how to keep a person_too_unaware_of_social_graces in suspense! ;)This weeks picture is latest addition to my Bulgarian collection, the 5 Stotinki coin in Brass Proof. It holds the image of the Madara Horseman on the obverse, and the denomination of the reverse. Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!
  15. SPHansen

    Took a Drive!

    By SPHansen,

    ... or my not-so-heroic adventures at the Texas Coin Show!
    Coin Journal for the week of 04/09/2012 through 04/15/2012Been a relatively quiet week for me... I did grab a few things, but I was really wanting to save a few dollars for the Texas Coin Show this weekend. My goal was to pick up some of the lower grade Indian Head cents, Buffalo and early Jefferson nickels as well as some supplies. Here are the treasures I grabbed this week:1907 Indian Head Cent BU (I think its a MS64)1942 S Merc Dime MS65 FB2006 S Silver Colorado SHQ PF70UC1960 D Franklin Half in MS64The 07 Indian Head is for my Grandma's Memorial Mint Set, and it is the first one that I came across that I think will grade out nicely. All the others I passed on looked cleaned to me, but this one seems to be a good, honest coin. It will be heading off to NGC sometime this week.The 42D Merc was a good find... I actually woke up very early Friday morning, much earlier than usual, and sat down at the computer to shake off the night's sleep. I looked at the screen, and there was a nice looking Merc on eBay, just two minutes from ending. The bid was low, so I jumped at the chance and grabbed it. I needed it for Mom's mint set, and it was the last one to complete the dimes for that year. I'm also close to finishing the first pass on the Merc Short Set. The 06 Quarter was another great buy. I have been watching and waiting to grab a PF70 Silver Statehood to boost my 21st Century Proof Type Set to the number one slot. Usually, they go for $30+ bucks per, but I managed to get this one for a lot less... right place at the right time, and I have one more #1 Ranked registry set to my name.And now we come to the Texas Coin Show... it's a smaller show, with about 70 dealers according to the postcard I get from them. I drove the 45 minutes up to Grapevine, and handed over my $3 admission. This is the third time I've been to this one, and I have started to make some friends with dealers. I spent a few hours chatting and digging through the 'cheapie' coins for coin to fill the holes of some Whitman folder sets... very successful on that front. I also was looking for one or two graded coins that I could add to my personal sets, especially 1907 and 1942 dates, but wasn't so successful there. I saw many spectacular coins, but most of it was either gold, or bullion. The ones that weren't didn't match my wants for the day. I did manage to get one coin at a great price... the 60D Franklin. I just started my Franklin set about a month ago, and this is the 5th coin I've added to it. There are some really big shows coming up in the next couple of months, so look forward to more treasure hunting. I had totally forgotten this time, but I'll take some pics next time to share.This week's pic is the 42 Merc... it's only the second FB example I have for now.Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  16. SPHansen
    ... adding this one because the first didn't have the forum activated.
    Lets hope this one does...
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  17. SPHansen
    ... for those who were interested.
    I sent in 5 sets of the New Birth Year sets for grading, with the exception of the quarters (which I removed)... here are the results:
    Line Year MM Pedigree Denom. Grade
    001 2012 S BIRTH SET 1C 69
    002 2012 S BIRTH SET 1C 69
    003 2012 S BIRTH SET 1C 69
    004 2012 S BIRTH SET 1C 69
    005 2012 S BIRTH SET 1C 69
    006 2012 S BIRTH SET 5C 69
    007 2012 S BIRTH SET 5C 69
    008 2012 S BIRTH SET 5C 69
    009 2012 S BIRTH SET 5C 70
    010 2012 S BIRTH SET 5C 69
    011 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 10C 70
    012 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 10C 70
    013 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 10C 70
    014 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 10C 70
    015 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 10C 69
    016 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 50C 69
    017 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 50C 69
    018 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 50C 69
    019 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 50C 70
    020 2012 S CLAD BIRTH SET 50C 69
     
    None of the cents hit 70... surprised on that.
    Only one of the nickels made 70
    The dimes fared much better.. all but one hit 70
    Only one of the Kennedy halves hit 70
    A bit disappointing... I imagine that if this is a portent of things to come with the full proof sets, there are going to be some awfully expensive coins in the coming months. And if NGC has a slot for only the Birth Year coins, it could go even higher. I was told that they will only have the 'Birth Year' designation available until the actual proof set comes out... will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I think very few sets have been sent in for grading, and if they are needed to complete other sets, then prices will skyrocket. Thoughts?
  18. SPHansen
    Has anyone else seen this?
    Just saw this and was wondering if anyone has any more information they could impart... ? Would this be worth sending to NGC for grading, etc?

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  19. SPHansen
    ... or have to wait a few more days for the latest grades!
    Coin Journal for the week of 04/03/2012 through 04/09/2012This past week saw me continuing to frequent all the auctions I can find to grab those few good deals to submit for grading. I managed to get some nice Walkers this week, along with a few odds n ends that I thought were exciting.This week's treasures I found were:1916 S Buffalo 5c1919 S Buffalo 5c1912 P Barber 10c1913 P Barber 10c2010 Brass USNA Trade $1 Type Coin by Daniel Carr1982 Penny Set x21941 D Walker1942 P Walker1942 D Walker1943 P Walker1944 P Walker1945 P Walker1970 Mint Sets x6Most of these will go to NGC for grading... expecting the Walkers to grade around MS64. The Penny sets are the 7 different penny types for the year. The Buffalo nickels I got cheap to fill in a some holes in a circulated set I plan to sell once complete. I was disappointed with the barber dimes, as they both have defects that will earn them Details grades... oh well, can't win them all. The Daniel Carr dollar is one of only 200 made, and I got it at about half the going price on eBay. I like his stuff, and it is becoming very popular. I was just reading Gary's journal about the registry points system... and I have to agree. I don't see the sense in having 3/4 of the grades all having the same value, and only the very top few with monster points. Why isn't there a standard point value used for each coin? I'd be very interested in seeing the formula used to determine points, although I don't think one exists based on what I see. The Birth Year mini proof sets are currently in the Grading/QA phase... just missed having them done before the weekend, which means a few more days of waiting... like the old joke, NGC knows how to keep a person_too_unaware_of_social_graces in suspense ;)Busy weekend ahead, with the holiday and all... hope everyone's is happy and safe. No picture this week...Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  20. SPHansen

    Busy Little Beaver

    By SPHansen,

    ... Giving NGC the Business!
    Coin Journal for the week of 03/26/2012 through 04/01/2012Well, what a week it has been. Many of the auction items I won have been flowing in, and going right back out to NGC for grading. These are the raw coins that I picked out as nice coins at great prices. Most will be flipped to support the sets I am working on... every dollar counts! Pouring everything into this process, I hope to be able to afford the more expensive coins I need to complete more #1 sets this year. The first new set I will complete this year will be the 21st Century Proof Type Set... I lack only one coin to make it #1, and I have my sights set on it already (hopefully I will have it by the next journal!)The second set I am working on is a 1907 Mint set as a memorial to my Grandma Alice, who started my in coin collecting. Keeping an eye out for 1907 coins has proven to be a tougher task than I first thought. The few 1907 coins that pop up on the auction sites are either poor quality of insanely expensive. I decided to build the set from scratch by judiciously picking raw coins and getting them slabbed myself. The first I purchased was a pretty nice AU Indian Head. This one was in between some 'nicer' looking coins, but I suspected that those had been cleaned. Luckily (for me), all the bidders concentrated on those, and let me have the 'ugly duckling' for next to nothing. The second one that caught my eye was a XF/AU 1907 quarter that I had to fight for, but it was one of those that just caught my fancy. I also received the 2012 Birth Year sets, which were sent in to NGC immediately. I was actually surprised when NGC called me to discuss how I wanted these encapsulated. They will be putting 'Birth Year Set' on the label, showing that these proofs came out before the actual proof set, which is cool. I don't know if there will be a separate slot for these, tho. If so, then having them will be important, and hard to get since I don't think that many are being sent in for grading (based on sales figures). I'm eager to see how these grade out, and I'll share when I get the info. I was also told that the BYS designation would only be done until the standard proof set comes out... oh, and mine will also have the 'First Release' designation.Have to cut this journal a bit short this week... have some more work to do. I'd like to leave you with a picture of another coin I grabbed during the auction that the 1886 dime came form. It is a sweet looking 1883 Shield 5c in what I think to be an MS64. Enjoy!Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  21. SPHansen

    Auction Madness!

    By SPHansen,

    ... or searching for that treasure in a sea of junk!
    Coin Journal for the week of 03/18/2012 through 03/25/2012This week saw me with some extra time on my hands, which I put to use by searching every online auction to see what coins could be found. After looking through well over prolly 10k items, I found a few gems hiding amongst the plethora of grot. I also got a great look at the different ranges of terms and buyer premiums out there. I have a few favorites, and few that will never see me again. All in all it was a very educational experience.This weeks treasures are:2009 DCT Puerto Rico Silver in PF70UC1945 Walker (MS64)1930 Standing Liberty Quarter (AU58)1913 T1 Buffalo Nickel (MS64++)1864 (AU58)1883 Shield 5c (MS64)1886 Seated Dime (MS65)1949 D Franklin 1/2 (MS64)1937 Buffalo 5c (MS64)1945 Walker (MS64)1937 Buffalo 5c (MS64)1866 (MS61RB)1937 D Buffalo 5c (MS64)1951 S Franklin 1/2 (MS65)1943 D Walker (MS63)1914 D $2.5 Gold1909 $2.5 Gold1976 Mint Set1884 O Morgan 1885 O Morgan1972 $1 Ike Proof1896 Morgan in MS631883 O Morgan1884 O Morgan1970 Mint Set1963B Joseph Barr Dollars (x3)1963 Red Seal $5 billThe first coin was the only eBay coin I picked up... this one came at a fair price, and I want to complete a perfect proof set of the 09 DC and Territories this year.The next batch with the grades in parentheses are from an auction where bargains were abundant. I only wish I had more money to spend! Peace dollars were really going for way under what you would expect, as everyone seemed to want the Morgans. This is where I picked up that monster toned 1886 dime I displayed in an earlier journal. The pieces I grabbed were also really killer. I put the grades that they sold them as, but the prices were more like VF-XF and in some cases less. It was just a great auction. I feel that even if they grade a little less than listed, I still come out way ahead.The rest of the week saw some great deals. I managed to grab a couple more gold coins, especially the 14D, for really great prices. I'm eager to get these home and ship them off to NGC for grading... speaking of which...The results of my first batch of coins to NCS and NGC are in, and the coins arrived here this morning... wow! Here are the results:1899 Indian Head Cent in AU Details (Environmental Damage)1852 Large Cent in VF Details (Bent)1854 Large Cent in VF Details (Scratches)1818 Large Cent in Good Details (Env Damage)1850 Seated Dime in VF Details (Imp Cleaned)1841 Seated Dime in Fine Details (Imp Cleaned)I was a bit disappointed that all came back in Details, but I learned so much from the experience. I was spot on with all the grades I predicted, which makes me happy. It also gave me a better understanding of how to spot cleaned coins. The conservation of the coins came back with some mixed results.. all are free of the gook n gunk that was on them, and overall they look great. The 52 Cent is still very dark, but the 54 looks so much better. The 1899 IH cent I expected to be AU, since it was picked out from change in that year and put away. Too bad that it was not protected properly until many years later. Still, it looks nice, and it is now fully protected. Funny, that after the conservation, the two dimes have some gorgeous rainbow toning on the reverse... too bad someone screwed them up with cleaning.I will leave you with a quick picture of the 54 Cent... the before image would be a absolute soot black coin. You will find these in my Numismatic Geneaology custom set soon.Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  22. SPHansen

    My Precious!

    By SPHansen,

    ... or my find of the day!
    Just spent 19+ hours at the computer attending auctions all over the country. I spent the first few hours checking out the goods, terms of auctions, etc, to see which ones I wanted to watch. The first auction started at 8:30am my time and ended about 11:30pm. I picked up some amazing deals... a couple more gold coins, and a nice variety of others, but this is the prize of the day. Can't wait to get it to NGC for encapulation!
    1886 P Seated Liberty Dime with amazing rainbow toning on front and back... should hit MS65.
    Wanted to share with my CS friends right away...

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  23. SPHansen

    Gold Rush

    By SPHansen,

    ... or just when I thought I would never have gold coins!
    Coin Journal for the week of 03/12/2012 through 03/18/2012This has been a crazy week, indeed. I spend a lot of time looking through auctions all over the country... the internet is a wonderful tool. I found many coin auctions, but I know that there would be competition for anything of real value. So, I turned my gaze to other venues, ones where you'd never think to find coins, and literally stuck gold.This weeks treasures include:1909 $2.5 Indian Head1909 $2.5 Indian Head1849 $1 Liberty Head1851 $1 Liberty HeadSmall Hoard Buffalo Nickels1916-1919 Merc Dimes2009 DCT American Samoa Clad in PF70UCSmall Hoard of BU Walkers, Franklins and KennedysMany of these I found out in the field, and at amazing prices. The weeks I have spent digging up the small, out of the way venues has really started to pay off. I not only started up some great new relationships, but got some amazing bargains as well. The Mint has released a new product, the 2012 Birth Year set, a sort of truncated version of the proof set. I ordered several of these and will send them in to NGC for grading. I'll let you know how that turns out in a later journal.The first batch of coins for my Numismatic Geneaology custom set has finally made it through the NCS pipline and has been transferred to NGC for grading. I'm happy that all coins made it through the conservation process (none returned) and look forward to getting them back home soon. Of course I will share when they do.I also received my Star Spangled Banner proofs and MS coins from the mint... how beautiful they are in hand! They were immediately sent to NGC for grading, along with several other coins that I think will grade high. This is my first attempt to pre-grade, and know it will be a learning experience. Lets see how close I come!This weeks picture is of the latest addition to my Top Pop Roosie Set.Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  24. SPHansen
    What is your opinion?
    I wrote NGC about the nickel type set... currently, the set has only one slot for the Westward Journey nickels of 2004 and 2005. Kathy answered saying that they consider the WWJ series as a single type, and that most type set collectors would want it that way. I think that two distinctly different designs on a coin, regardless of the series name, each deserve a slot in the set. She suggested I write and get the opinions of the other collectors, so here I am. I want to have the set changed to reflect the two unique coins.
    What do you think? If you agree, I would like to know so I can petition for the change. Hopefully, this journal will go to the boards so answers will be public and easy for NGC to see.
    Thanks!
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  25. SPHansen

    Slim Pickings

    By SPHansen,

    ... or people wanting stupid money for mundane coins!
    Coin Journal for the week of 03/05/2012 through 03/11/2012This week saw a drastc drop in bargains on all the sites. Sellers putting up auctions with outrageous starting prices and insulting shipping costs. I shook my head, and went looking for some baragins in raw coins, especially those for my Bulgarian and Space Themed custom sets. I also did some selling this week, and made a dollar or two. Here are the treasures I added to my collection this week: 1991 Roosevelt in PR70 UC (Heritage) 2008 Kazakhstan 50 Tenge Space Ship Vostok of 1961 BU (raw) 1992 Russia 3 Rubles Year of Space Proof (raw) 2000 Jefferson Nickel in PR70 UC (Heritage) 2003 Jefferson Nickel in PR70 UC (Heritage) 2004 WWJ Nickel Keelboat in PF70 UC (Heritage) 2005 WWJ Nickel Ocean in PF70 UC (Heritage) 1992 Washington Quarter in PF70 UC (Heritage) 1995 Washington Quarter in PF70 UC (Heritage) 1996 Washington Quarter in PF70 UC (Heritage) 2009 DCT Quarter Puerto Rico in PF70 UC (Heritage) The Roosie was obtained at a decent price... I think this is because they seem to have at least one in each auction and it was just my turn. Looking to see if I can continue to add a top pop dime at least once a week. I was looking over the higher ranked sets and there are LOTS of PCGS coins in there. If NGC pulls them, there will be a big shake up there, as I imagine there would be in all competition sets. A couple of nice space coins from around the world were prioced just right, and are on their way to me. I think it is a shame that the US does not have any real space themed coins... commemorative or otherwise. Ohio and Florida statehoods, the Ike dollar reverse and possibly the SBA reverse are the only ones I know of. Grabbed several coins from Heritage this week since eBay has been bargain free this week... these are both upgrades and additions to my nickel and quarter sets. I've been looking to fill in gaps in the proof sets, and beef up the type sets. Speaking of which... I noticed that the nickel type set has a single slot for the Westward Journey nickels, covering both 2004 and 2005. I think this is a mistake, as the 04 has the originial Jefferson profile on the obverse, while the 05 has the single year type obverse. These are two different types, and should each have their own slots. Am I wrong here? As I prepare to p[ost this journal, I read a new post from John Robinson... and would like to respond. I am not surprised by your finds. The 50s were a time when people hoarded coins by the rolls. I often come across entire rolls of coins that were obviously hoarded. Some try to sell the coins on eBay, but when they find out that the coins are not very valuable, they just release them back into circulation. I can't tell you how many rolls of nickels from the 40s and 50s I come across! The most surprising find I had was a 1906 V nickel... I guess not many know what it is, and just assume its a foreign coin (which I see often as well). Nice pull on the 58, tho. Also on the way this week are several proof and mint state examples of the beautiful new Star Spangle Banner commemoratives. I really do like the way this coin looks! I'm going to get them all slabbed, and sell most to help pay for mine. THis weeks image is the oldest slabbed coin I have, the 1835 Capped Bust dime. It is a details coin, but I still enjoy it so much. I can imagine the feeling of getting one in MS condition! Thanks for reading, and I will see you fellow coin warriors in the trenches!